My Favorite Recipes for Christmas That Are Easy to Make Ahead
I’m sharing my favorite recipes for Christmas that are easy to make ahead and always a hit with family and friends.
I love love love make-ahead recipes, especially during the holidays! When my freezer and fridge are full of casseroles, cakes, quiches, pies and marinaded meat, I am in hospitality heaven:-) Even drop-in company is welcome if I know I have food to pull out as needed. These allow me to focus more on spending time with family and loved ones, soaking in special holiday celebrations!
Below is a list of what I make most every year just before the holidays. From side dishes to mains to desserts and more, these are my favorite festive recipes for any special occasion, especially Thanksgiving or Christmas!
Since all of these make-ahead dishes are for entertaining, I am bypassing the easy and disposable aluminum pans for freezer to oven to table baking dishes. My fave dishes to make/freeze/bake ziti, tetrazzini or any breakfast casserole are this Emile Henry and/or this Le Creuset. I chose white, but there are other colors available. Both brands are solid and built to withstand extremes in heat and cold.
Favorite Christmas Dinner Mains
We have a traditional Christmas Eve dinner in our home, and I consider the recipes below some of my “go-to” classics. The pasta dishes are excellent when we choose to do an “Italian style” meal. The beef tenderloin is a more elegant (and expensive) main dish. The links below take you to the blog post with details on how to make each recipe and how to prepare it ahead of time.
Favorite Christmas Appetizers
I never want my guest to fill up on appetizers before the holiday feast is served, but it is important to have something ready for hungry guests to snack on as they arrive. Any of these appetizers are sure to be a crowd pleaser!
- Spinach Artichoke Dip
- Fabulous Cranberry-Jalapeño Salsa
- Alabama Redneck Charcuterie
- Cheddar Cheese Fondue
- Caramel Apple Dip
Favorite Christmas Desserts
Christmas desserts are typically a bit more indulgent than those we might make every day. I have listed four favorites of ours below. All are delicious and decadent. Each one can be made ahead to some degree, and details are in the podcast or in the blog post for each recipe.
- Bellini’s White Chocolate Bread Pudding
- Southern Living’s Best Carrot Cake with Buttermilk Glaze
- Ashley Mac’s Red Velvet Cake
- Zoe’s Chocolate Sheet Cake Copycat Recipe
- Ginger Cookies with Buttercream Filling
Favorite Christmas Breakfast Recipes
